Macmillan Gives Over £37,000 To Cancer Patients in Ealing Borough
Charity offering grants to those struggling financially
Sergio Lopez used his grant to pay for winter clothing
Last year, Macmillan Cancer Support gave over £37,000 to 100 people living with cancer in the Borough of Ealing last year and are boosting the amount disbursed in 2022.
As many cancer patients on low-incomes struggle with the financial fallout of a diagnosis, compounded by the current cost of living crisis and Covid-19, Macmillan is urging anyone in need to seek their support.
The grants can help pay for essentials such as heating bills and hospital transport costs, after people are diagnosed with cancer or have undergone cancer treatment.
And across the capital, Macmillan gave over £1.2million to around 3,300 London cancer patients.[
A cancer diagnosis often brings increased and unexpected living costs, such as requiring wigs or post-surgery clothing, a new bed for someone who can no longer climb the stairs to their bedroom, or fresh bedding for those experiencing incontinence and other treatment side-effects. Research by Macmillan found that across the UK, 83% of people diagnosed with cancer suffered a financial impact.
However, one of the biggest expenses facing people with cancer is higher energy bills. Many people undergoing cancer treatment need to have the heating on for longer periods due to the side-effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
With domestic energy prices rising by as much as 50% in April, and further increases expected in October when the energy price cap is raised again, this year could present a triple threat for people with cancer, who are already struggling with the financial impact of their diagnosis and the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Macmillan grants are a one-off, means tested payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring. Anyone over 18, who has been diagnosed with cancer or undergoing treatment can apply.
In recognition of the extraordinary challenges facing cancer patients in 2022, Macmillan has made an extra £3.5 million of emergency funds available to help pay escalating fuel bills. In the first six weeks of 2022, Macmillan has given out over £1.6 million in grants to support vulnerable patients across the UK – an increase of 33% on the same time last year.
Sergio, 56, from North West London explained why his Macmillan grant provided such a lifeline, “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2018, a month after my mother passed away, so it felt like an overwhelming shock during a time of grief.”
“I am very grateful for the support I received from Macmillan during my cancer. I lost my job as a primary and secondary school music teacher because I could no longer cope with the busy schedule and moving across four different sites. Being on an effectively zero hours contract, I had no rights for sick leave or any type of support from my employer. The Macmillan grant I received helped me to buy winter clothing.”
“The thing that will stay with me forever is the emotional support I got from the Macmillan team at Barts NHS Trust, it was amazing. It was a lonely and uncertain time, however I felt heard and cared for by the whole team at Barts. I am a determined person, sometimes a bit stubborn as well – and I think my level of emotional energy surprised even my treatment team!”
“I moved back to Spain temporarily during Covid-19, and whilst there I helped create a peer network for cancer patients, to support them with their mental health. I hope to establish a similar network in the UK. For now, empathy is at the core of my life, and I look forward to embracing my creativity again with a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.”
Emma Tingley, Macmillan’s Head of Partnerships for London & South East Regions, said of the additional challenges facing people with cancer in 2022, “It’s been an incredibly tough few years for people with cancer. Covid-19 continues to cause great challenges for the clinically vulnerable and now cancer patients are having to contend with a cost of living crisis that has seen prices for fuel and food rocket.
“Macmillan is here for everyone with cancer. But we know there are always more people that we could be helping. So, if you are someone in need of our support, we will do everything we can to ensure you get the practical advice and help that can make life with cancer not simply about survival.”
Across the UK, Macmillan gave over £12.3m in grants to over 33,000 cancer patients in 2021.
To find out more about Macmillan grants, including who can apply, call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 (open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm) and talk to the Macmillan Welfare Rights Team.
Or, speak to your Macmillan nurse, or other healthcare professional, who can help you apply for a Macmillan grant.
Further information can also be found on the charity’s website.
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April 7, 2022